Table article.



PATENIED JULY 23, 1907.

E. B. MOTTER, TABLE ARTICLE. I APPLICATION FILED APEJO, 1906. I

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TABLE ARTICLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 23, 1907.

Application filed April 10, 1906. Serial No. 810,941.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER EIDEMILLER Mor'rnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tippecanoe City, in the county of Miami and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Table Articles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to what may be termed as a corn-onthe cob holder for convenience when eating. It may, with equal facility, be utilized for holding the flesh-covered or equipped bone-portions of fowl, particularly the thigh or leg members, under like circumstances, which is apparent. It may also be used for grasping and removing bones from fish for table use. Further it may serve to hold the bones, such as first referred to, after having been denuded of their adhering flesh, and finally it is effective for use as a napkin holder or ring.

Said invention therefore consists of the structural features or instrumentalities substantially as hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out by the claims.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention: Figure 1 is a perspective view thereof, as when in use as a napkin-ring or holder; the dotted-line representation of a bone as resting upon the legs of its bracket being suggestive of another use thereof. Fig. 2 is a like view of the device as when used for holding a corn-on-the-cob for eating. Fig. 3 is a fractional view thereof indicative of its use for removing fish-bones, for instance. Fig. 4 is a like view of the invention representing its use for holding a fowl-bone as when denuding the flesh therefrom in eating or otherwise. Fig. 5 is a detached fractional view showing the upper end portions of the aforesaid bracket or support for the device, and Fig. 6 is a detailed perspective view of a modified form of rigid jaw for the ring.

In the disclosure of my invention I provide what may be properly termed as a splitring 1, designed to be of spring or resilient metal, with upward-extended opposed jaws 1, 1*, standing at a slightly outward inclination. These jaws having opposite zigzag-eonformations or surfaces 1 1, effective for grasping thereby the required object or bone as seen in Fig. 4, by suitably applying pressure to the ring-portion of the device. The serrated gripping portion 1 of one of the jaws 1 is adapted to enter the slot 1 formed.

between the serrated gripping portions l of the opposite jaw, whereby the extreme upper end face-portions 1, 1 of said jaws may be brought together when desired.

In Fig. 6, I have shown a modified form of jaws 1 which is cup-shaped with teeth 1 around its edge and may be used instead of the jaws 1*.

Pivetally connected to the outer lateral portions of the jaws 1 are arms of supplemental jaws 2 preferably curving outward and upward and having inward extending opposite projections of pins 2, to engage or penetrate the pithy or core portion of the corn-ear as suggested by Fig. 2. These arms or jaws are capable of having twb positions as-noted by the drawings.

Owing to the inclination or diverging of the jaw members l to which the arms or jaws 2 are pivoted, the latter will lie close to the ring when inverted, but will be spread apart when raised to permit of the gripping of a half ear of corn therebetween. Said supplemental jaws or arms are preferably produced in ornamental or configurated form, and have outstanding from their lower portions projections or rests 2", to aid the fingers or hand in conveniently holding the device as when in practical use.

When not used for holding articles of food, the device is upheld by a bracket or tripod 3 preferably of. the general outline or contour shown, with an upper end slot-forming portion 3 to receive and retain the ring or device in upright or standing position to render it effective as a napkin-holder, as is apparent.

It is obvious that the supplemental jaws 2 may be removed or omitted and the tripod 3 may be dispensed with without departing from my invention, the prin-. cipal features of which are the ring for holding a napkin and the rigid jaws in said ring for gripping and holding bones, etc. When the tripod is not used, the ring is supported erect by knobs or feet 4 shown in Fig. 2.

Other conveniences and advantages may be suggested in the practical use of my invention later on.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a split spring ring having jaw members extending from the ends thereof and normally lying in outwardly diverging planes, and curved supplemental jaws pivotally mounted on the outer sides of said jaw members near said ring to swing from a position close to the outer sides of said ring to a more widely extended position above said jaw members.

2. A device of the character described comprising a split ring having jaw members extending therefrom at the ends thereof and supplemental jaws pivoted to said jaw members and adapted to be extended or inverted, said snpplemental jaws having retaining pins at their outer ends and lateral extending studs or finger rests at their inner ends.

3. A device of the character described comprising a split spring ring adapted to be used as a napkin ring, and having jaw members adapted to grasp an inter-posed object when the ring is compressed and a bracket having a horizontal slot formed in its upper end portion adapted to receive and support said ring.

4. A device of the character described comprising a split spring ring adapted to be used as a napkin ring and having jaw members adapted to grasp an interposed object when the ring. is compressed, supplemental jaws pivoted to said jaw members and adapted to be extended or inverted, and a bracket having a horizontal slot formed in its upper end portion adapted to receive and support said ring.

5. A device of the character described, comprising a part or member forming a napkin-ring or holder, and a bracket or tripod having a horizontal slot formed in its upper-end portion adapted to receive and retain in position Said 10 napkin-holder forming, part.

6. A device of the character described, comprising a split spring ring having upstanding jaws, said jaws having opposed intermediate serrated gripping faces, and straight gripping faces at their ends, the serrated portion of one jaw adapted to enter between the serrated portions of the opposite jaw to bring the end faces together.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ELMER EIDEMILLER MOTTER. Witnesses:

H. .T. FAVORITE, '1. .T. GEARHEARDT. 

